Nikko Blue mop head dead?

18 years ago

Hi everyone!

I live in Oklahoma City, OK, and last August I planted a beautiful (albeit small) Nikko Blue 'mop head' hydrangea, which I had seen growing very well in some of the City's older gardens (Crown Heights). We planted it in partial shade close to the house, and it did pretty well.

In October, after it was done blooming, I removed the spent heads, which left just the main stem at about 8 inches tall. We did not water it over the winter, thinking it was simply dormant, and we had an extremely dry winter here.

Fast forward to February. My husband was out in the garden planting new stuff this February, and accidentally stepped on the old hydrangea stem, snapping it down to about 1 inch tall. It is now nearly May, and the plant has still not showed any signs of life---no new growth from the base or from the snapped off original stem.

My question is this: should the hydrangea have showed some signs of life by now? And if you think it is dead, please tell me whether it was because of the severe, accidental pruning, removing the spent heads at the wrong time, or not watering it over the winter.

This is my absolute favorite plant (my wedding bouquet was all blue hydrangea), and I would appreciate any insight into my problems with it so that I can prevent Nikko Blue hydrangea fatalities in the future!

Thank you!

-kparker

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Comments (3)

katrina1
18 years ago
If it did die do not feel too sad, because there are lots of people who lost their trees and shrubs from last year's and this early spring's drought. Ever since the first of the year prior to this last week's good rains, we had only received one good one inch rain.

No matter how much city water is put on plants during long droughts the trees and shrubs simply barely survive. Mostly because they are either over watered or watered too irregularly in the hot summer months. Even if those two watering aspects do not occur, Clorine and other city water addatives often adds stress to the already stressed plants,trees,shrubs.

Even reputable nurseries lost a lot of plants over the winter. Now some of them are having trouble keeping stock on hand, because of all the customers purchasing so much to replace the things they lost.

Hopefully your Nikko Blue does pull through, but if not, simply purchase another one and besure to get advice from the nursery on how to prune and care for it in its establishment stage.
susanlynne48
18 years ago
My Nikko Blue barely made it through the drought. But, you must know that it is a well-established plant, having been in the ground long before I moved into my home. I live very close to Crown Heights. It is producing growth from the base of the plant, but none on the stems as it should. Same thing with other hydrangeas I have in the back yard. This is no fault of yours. All of the hydrangeas suffered thru the winter drought.

My azaleas suffered as well. My beautiful pink azalea in front died. It has been in the ground for well over 10 years. It was an evergreen, and while it retained its evergreen growth over the winter, as soon as I began to water it in spring, it died. It may come back if I prune back the dead stems. I don't know yet.

Lots of things suffered. My double daffodils did not bloom this year. Just foliage.

Best thing for you to do, is to go at it again, and purchase a new Nikko Blue to start over with. Hydrangeas really suffer from lack of water. Hydra - means water.

I can empathize with you because it's tough to lose a plant especially with sentimental value attached to it. But, you can succeed with it. Just do it again.

Susan
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Lisa_H OK
18 years ago
K--All my hydrangeas are showing green by now...my guess is yours is not alive. I watered all winter and mine are alive, but barely.

You might check into the Endless Summer hydrangeas or Lowes has one called Forever and Ever...these types bloom on new wood as well as old wood. This is better for those years when the branches die back to the ground. I have two Nikkos and both of them did that this year. I believe they only bloom on old wood, so I think I will have another year without blooms. I am looking into getting an Endless Summer too...I want blooms!!!

Lisa

Nikko Blue mop head dead?

Comments (3)

katrina1

susanlynne48

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Lisa_H OK

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